IT Network Engineer II - Launch

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-09-02

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

IT 

Rocket Lab’s IT team is responsible for how our global teams access information and run operations across our computer systems, networks, and devices. Our hardworking IT team is a group of flexible problem-solvers working in a fast-paced environment but who also thrive under the challenge of supporting all of our proprietary systems and people, from finance to launch operations.

IT NETWORK ENGINEER II – LAUNCH

Located onsite at our Wallops, VA East Coast Launch Facility, the IT Network Engineer II will deliver day-to-day IT support and advanced technical expertise to Rocket Lab engineers while contributing to infrastructure implementations and projects across the organization. Join our IT team in maintaining the global IT infrastructure that empowers mission success through highly reliable and available systems.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Resolve complex technical issues across network infrastructure, systems, and integrations requiring escalated troubleshooting and analysis
• Deliver subject matter expertise and technical guidance to ensure optimal performance and availability of critical IT systems
• Drive upgrade and maintenance initiatives with a focus on continuous improvement, reliability, and security
• Implement and champion IT infrastructure standards for deployment and management across Space Systems environments
• Participate in an on-call rotation supporting 24/7/365 Launch Mission Operations
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, deploy, and optimize infrastructure solutions that meet organizational needs
• Implement and champion IT infrastructure standards for the deployment and management of Launch environments to ensure:
  • Compliance with Rocket Lab Policies
  • Compliance with cybersecurity policies, standards, and procedures
  • Simplified and consistent environment management practises
  • Automated build and maintenance processes
  • Improvements to increase reliability of systems
  • System High Availability and Disaster Recovery
  • Clear and concise reporting on usage, uptime, support levels, etc.
  • Comprehensive documentation of environments and support
  • Efficient cost control
• Work with a team of world class IT, engineering, and business professionals.

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2+ years of experience in a network focused technology role and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience (6+ Years of work experience)
• Hands-on experience with the deployment of networking hardware (routers, switches, firewalls, etc..)
• Understanding of networking concepts including network security, network architecture design, technical standards and deliverables, troubleshooting tools
• In-depth knowledge of at least one of:
  • Fortinet Firewalls and Juniper/Cisco Switches
  • Enterprise Network architecture or administration
  • Multicasting and Switching (VLAN) overlays
  • Network Monitoring tools and Packet capture practices
  • Linux/Windows system administration
• US citizenship is required, due to program requirements

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Specialist qualifications in area of expertise: Linux, CCNA, AWS, Microsoft, Azure, etc.
• Experience with mass deployment of devices or IaC
• Experience with Puppet, Ansible, or other automation frameworks
• Experience with Python, Shell, Bash, and/or other languages
• Experience with Promethius, Grafana, InfluxDB
• Advanced problem solving and analytical skills – able to see the big picture, make connections and appropriate decisions.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the state of Virginia’s pay transparency requirements. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience. 

Base salary is only one part of Rocket Lab’s compensation package for this role. You may be eligible for company stock, or cash incentives, and can purchase discounted stock through Rocket Lab’s Employee Stock Purchase Program. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.  

WHAT TO EXPECT 

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.   

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant.  These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. 

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.  For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Explore around this job

Field: Technology Sub-niche: Cloud, IT and infrastructure All jobs at Rocket Lab Corporation Jobs in Virginia Jobs in Wallops Island, VA Virginia state guide

View this job and apply on the employer's page →

You apply on the employer's page; AtiveSite does not receive or process applications and is not affiliated with the employer. The description above is shown as the source published it.

About the role

This is a — role in the Technology field (Cloud, IT and infrastructure) at Rocket Lab Corporation.

We could not match this job title to one occupation in the official wage statistics, so no pay estimate is shown. Pay is not in the source listing; ask the employer for the range and compare in the 240 job niches.

How to prepare and behave

This is editorial guidance, not information from the employer.

• Read the whole description and match your examples to its requirements; use the same words the posting uses where they are true for you.
• Research the employer before the interview: what it does, who its customers are and recent news; prepare two or three questions about the work.
• Arrive early (or log in early for a video call), dress one step above the daily dress code, and test your camera and audio beforehand.
• Answer with short stories: the situation, what you did and the result. Give numbers when you have them and never invent them.
• Be honest about gaps; say what you did to learn and how fast you can close them.
• Ask about the team, the first 90 days, how success is measured and the schedule; do not open with salary and time off.
• When pay comes up, know the market range for the occupation and your lowest acceptable offer before you answer; ask for the full package in writing.
• Send a short thank-you message within a day, mentioning one thing you discussed.
• Have code, data work or projects you can show, and be ready to think aloud: many technical interviews test how you reason, not only the answer.

Know your rights as a candidate and an employee:

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: prohibited employment practices
• U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
• CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor): job search help, interview tips and resumes
• USA.gov: avoiding job scams

The city

Wallops Island, VA is not one of the cities with its own page in our guides, so here is the state: Virginia.

The state economy in brief

Virginia is in the South region (South Atlantic division) and has 8,705,170 residents (the 12th largest of the 50 states and DC by population), with a median age of 39.0. Its economy produced about $826,942 million in the latest four quarters (BEA), 13th among states and DC, equal to $94,994 per resident.

Jobs and the labour market

The unemployment rate was 3.6% in 2026M09, which is 24th lowest of 51 (1st is the lowest). Employers had job openings equal to 4.8% of employment, 6th highest of 51, a measure of how hard it is to hire. The median wage across all occupations is $55,690 a year ($26.78 an hour), 9% above the national median ($55,690 against $50,980).

What people do and what it pays

The occupations with the most jobs in Virginia are Fast Food and Counter Workers (104,460 jobs, median $30,110); General and Operations Managers (103,590 jobs, median $122,080); Retail Salespersons (100,290 jobs, median $34,240); Software Developers (88,280 jobs, median $136,460); Cashiers (83,890 jobs, median $30,580). Among occupations with at least 2,000 jobs, the best paid are Chief Executives (median $310,740); Physicians, All Other (median $278,530); Family Medicine Physicians (median $222,630). Compared with the nation, the state is most specialised in computer and mathematical (1.8 times the national share of workers) and business and financial operations (1.4 times the national share of workers).

Cost of living, taxes and workplace rules

Prices are above the national average in Virginia: the regional price parity is 101.1 against 100 for the whole country (36th lowest of 51). Median gross rent is $1,579 a month and the median household income $93,170, so a year of rent equals 20.3% of income; the median home value is $383,700. The state minimum wage is $12.77 (the higher of state and federal rates applies to most workers). State income tax on wages: Graduated, top rate 5.75%. It is a right-to-work state, meaning workers cannot be required to pay union dues as a condition of employment. It has no state paid family and medical leave programme in our source.

People and commuting

13.1% of residents were born abroad and 42.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Among workers, 67.6% drive alone, 2.3% use public transit and 18.3% work from home; 17.6% commute 45 minutes or more.

State guide: Virginia →

Where to live

The job city has no coordinates we can place on the map, so no housing comparison is shown. Use the 250 largest cities table to compare rent and income.

Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Technology, where your skills may carry over:

Cybersecurity (713) Data, analytics and AI (3366) Software engineering (4089) Product management (836)

Distances

This job has no single city we can place on the map (remote, flexible or unmatched location), so no distance table is shown. Browse all Technology jobs with distances from any of the 20 largest cities.

The employer

Rocket Lab Corporation is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

We do not hold headcount or revenue for this employer. Check its careers site and, if it is listed on a stock exchange, its public filings (SEC EDGAR search).

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at Rocket Lab Corporation

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Cloud, IT and infrastructure

More jobs in Wallops Island, VA

All Cloud, IT and infrastructure jobs → · All Technology sub-niches →

FAQ

What is the IT Network Engineer II - Launch job at Rocket Lab Corporation?

A private-sector role in technology (cloud, it and infrastructure) listed 68 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Wallops Island, VA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

See the state or country guide for rent, income and taxes.

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-09-02 (68 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse cloud, it and infrastructure jobs in Virginia.

Sources and terms

• Job data: Rocket Lab Corporation careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-09-02). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)